Sanatana Dharma is Universal

There are so many misconceptions with regard to the Vedic or Hindu sanAtana dharma or just plain Dharma! Many Indians and non-Indians happily identify all abrahamic and other non-Vedic religions as different dharmas! This is far from truth as all such religions are essentially different world views, sectarian and divisive. 

Dharma, on the other hand is that which unconditionally sustains the entire universe and is essentially the duty that obtains between the individual and the universe. It has two phases - Pravrutti (outward) and Nivrutti (inward). Pravrutti is essentially performance of prescribed duty according to one's nature, as a service to the universe which is the manifestation of Ishwara or God who is essentially an embodiment of Dharma. Nivrutti is renunciation or withdrawal of the senses and the mind from the material and to realize / surrender / rest in the same God who is within one's own self. Thus, Vedic God as the universal Self having the entire universe as His body, is himself an embodiment of dharma as He is unconditionally sustaining all beings whatever may be one's world view or matha. Dharma as a duty may differ based on the individual differences, but as a selfless service rendered according to one's varna (bodily characteristics) and ashrama (stage in life), to God manifesting as this universe, it is always going to be integral, universal and leads us to the Non-dual Brahman/God/Truth. Every other world view is conditional, sectarian, incomplete and therefore adharma. 

Haters of sanAtana dharma, have been trying to break or destroy sanAtana Dharma from time immemorial. Occassionally, they may become successful in controlling and intimidating practitioners of sanAtana dharma. But they will never be able to eliminate or destroy Dharma as it is based on Brahman or God established as the universal absolute Self and manifesting as the entire universe of nature that unconditionally sustains all beings. The cloud of anatman or ignorance (which is merely body based) can at best cover the sun of the Atman or the Self, but can never destroy it. Anatma or adharma always depends on the Atman or dharma and not vice versa.

Practitioners of Abrahamic (non-Brahmic?) or non-Vedic religions and even many Indic religions including the Charuvakas (who do not accept God), though they do not explicitly accept Veda, are actually absolutely dependent on the Vedic God manifesting as this very universe, for their existence. But still out of their ignorance they locate their God "outside" the universe or deny God altogether, which goes against experience. They have been continually opposing practitioners of sanAtana dharma due to their coverage of ignorance. Their main point of contention is around the practice of Varnashrama dharma and the worship of many forms of God, which is a natural consequence of realizing God in all the many names and forms on which we depend and also realizing the society, nation and the entire universe as the body of God.

Recently, many such ignorant spiritual leaders, have started claiming that the Lingaayata "dharma" as established by the 12th century social reformer Sri Basaveshwara or Basavanna, is different from "Veerashiava dharma". They are of the view that Sri Basaveshwara established the Lingayata dharma in opposition to Varna and caste system which is practiced by the Brahmanas and other followers of the Sanatana dharma. 

According to them, the main deity of Shiva that is heralded in the Vachana literatures, composed by Sri Basaveshwara and many other contemporary Lingayata spiritual teachers, is different from the Shiva that is worshipped by Veerashaivas or Hindus. The Shiva of Lingayats is a singular formless deity who has no family of other related deities. On the other hand the Shiva that is worshipped by Veerashaivas and Hindus, has a particuar form or body and therefore no better than a human as He also has a wife Parvati and two sons Ganapathi and Skandha. As Veerashaivas worship Shiva along with his family it is a part of Sanatana Hindu dharma and not the same as Lingayata dharma as established by Basaveshwara. They dont realize that Parvati represents Prakruti or nature and Ganesha and Skanda are none other than the aspects of Shiva as the controller of gana (groups of senses organs) and mind.

Their claim that Lingayata religion is a separate "dharma" does not hold water, as Dharma is unique to Vedas. Lingaayata matha could be accepted as one among the umpteen number of mathas or religions or subsects coming under the broader umbrella of Hindu Sanathana Dharma 

These false Lingayata "teachers", simiar to Abrahamic missionaries, use very bad language to put down the Hindu deities like Parvati, Ganapathi, Skandha, Lakshmi, Vishnu, Rama, Krishna including Shiva that is worshipped by Crores of Hindus. They also go to the extent of claining that the Lingayata dharma and Islam dharma are one and the same and the Shiva of Lingayata religion and Allah are non-different. In that case they both fall under the category of adharma

Swami Nijagunananda, belonging to the Lingayat sect, is supporting the above view and trying his best to identify Lingayat sect as independent of the Sanatana dharma, in the following Youtube video.

Nijagunananda Swamiji | Lingayat Veerashaiva bere | Udaya TV | ಶ್ರೀ ನಿಜಗುಣಾನಂದ ಸ್ವಾಮೀಜಿ |

Here are some of the points that he is trying to claim and my replies are embedded in red:

• Dharma has come after the advent of Humans and not otherwise. 
• Correction: The above applies to all non-vedic religions including Lingayata as they are Pourusheya (created by humans). Vedic Dharma on the other hand has no beginning or end as it is based on God, who is established as the inner Self of all, sustaining the entire universe of name/forms as his body.

• Veerashaiva is one of the many mathas or sects like Aghoris, Shaivaites, Shaktas and so on that are considered part of the sanatana dharma.
• So also is Lingayata matha / religion.

• Shankara, Ramanuja, Madhva and others have only established their own mathas, which is a way of worship. 
• All the many acharyas have firm phylosophical basis for their interpretation. Each tradition is not contradictory to each other and they all accept Vedic Sanathana dharma as the only way to attain God who is an embodiment of truth and dharma.

• Sanatana dharma and all the many mathas or religions in it are riddled with hierarchical Varana/Jati/gender conflicts.
• Varnashrama dharma is a natural consequence of realizing the family / society and the entire universe as the body of God. There is a need for every organ in the body to perform it's respective work in unison with others, to keep the being healthy. Differences in the body/mind/characteristics among Humans and the classification of varna/duty based on the same is always going to be there in ay civilized society. 

• People who argue that Lingayata is same a Veerashaiva and therefore comes under sanatana dharma have no phylosophical basis or siddhanta.
• As Veerashaiva's accept Sri Basaveshwara as their Guru and accept the entire vachana literature as their scripture and Shiva as the supreme deity, they have to be considered same as Lingayat. Both Veerashaiva and Lingayata come under Sanatana dharma as the main deity Shiva worshipped by Sri Basaveshwara is heralded in the Veda also. As Shiva is both with and without form and essentialy cosidered as the Conscious Self that abides in all, every world view, directly or indirectly, comes under Sanatana dharma only. As Shiva is all pervading and indwelling in all, He is Vishnu or Narayana also. All names/forms is a linga or they indicate Him only.

• Basaveshwara, even though was born in the highest caste of Brahma, rejected all varna and Jati and established the Lingayata dharma in opposition to Vaidhika Brahmanas.
• Nobody including Sri Basaveshwara can reject their own body/mind/intellect and social relation which is categorized into one of the varna and ashrama. Nobody can oppose Brahmanas who stand by this Universal Vedic view of realizing the entire universe as Ishwara/Brahman's body. 

• Lingayata as established by Basavanna is a Dharma and is based on a valid siddhanta and therefore not a matha. 
• Siddha means that which is eternally present and anta means that which is the ultimate end or abode of all. This cannot be anything other than the Vedic Brahman established as the inner Self of all. Lingayata is only a mata. Vedic view alone can be called as a dharma with the absolute Brahman as the "Siddhanta".

• In the Lingayata siddhanta - there is no varna/jati/gender differences and there are no many gods as opposed to the vaidhika way of worship and there is only one Supreme formless God who is available to even lowest of the lowly being.
• Lingayata is a half truth or demonic view as it accepts God or Shiva as existing in only jangama or living beings and rejects God in the form of sthaavara or nature goes against experience as jangama or living beings absolute depend on sthaavara or nature for existence. Denying varna does not make it non-existent. The differences in the body, mind and intellect in all beings is very obvious and can only be explained based differences in karma. The differences are due to the three Gunas - Sattva, Rajas and Tamas - of Prakruthi and the classification of these in terms of varna/jati/gender can never be rejected. But the false notion of high and low can be rejected and for this, the Vedic teaching and realization of Ishwara or God as the indweller of everyone and everything is very much needed.

• Shiva in the Lingayata dharma is neither naada priya (lover of music) nor veda priya (lover of Veda). Nada priya Ravana got eliminated and Veda priya Brahma lost his head. Shiva is essentially Bhakti priya (lover of devotion).
• Bhakti expresses through music (naada) and knowledge (veda). The above is only using nahi nida nyaya to glorify bhakti.

• Basavanna created a new dharma because in the Sanatana dharma - untouchables have no temple entry, lower caste people have no God, women are weak, menstruating women are kept outside the family, God is in the idol, Stone is God, mud is God, water is God, there are 33 crore Gods, imagination was limitless.
• This is the same old argumat that Abrahamic religions and communists also use to convert Hindus to their faith. But Hindu religion has corrected all the above social problems and is resurging with redoubled force. Entry into the temple is based on physical and mental purity only. Nobody cn deny the Vedic teaching to look upon mother, father, teacher, guests and the all the elements as God because God is indwelling in all of them and we absolutely depend on them for existence. 33 Gods correspond to 33 realities, represented by 33 alphabets in Sanskrit. All the 33 alphabets standing for different devatas coalece into One single letter of OM or Brahman. 

• There were brahma jnani brahmas who were beyond all these divisions. But there were others who claimed to be brahma jnanis but still clinging to the varna/caste and other blind beliefs. These prople are like those who are pretending to be sleeping and they can never be woken up. Basavanna therefore revolted against the sanatana dharma and created a new Lingayata dharma.
• This is the typical argument of false religions who use the Vedic teaching of God or Brahman, as the Self but stupidly ignore the body and the world that is absolutely dependent on the same God as the universal Self. As already explained Varna/caste pertains to the body and no one including Brahma jnAnIs can deny that. Ignoring the body and the world and related varnashrama is equivalent to pretending to be sleeping.

• Basavanna brought dharma to low caste people, like laborers, farmers, potters, even prostitutes. He rejected Shiva confined to the temples and made Shiva available to all in the form of Linga who should be worshipped within onself, which is based on the "Aham Bruho".
• The above idea of Basavanna is borrowed from Veda only which declares that God is equally present in all, irrespective of varna/jati/gender. Body is actually the idol of the soul and every being, lingayats or whoever, is actually worshipping the indwelling Vedic God through their own body only. The body is made of five elements only and so there is a need to recognize God in the elements also and hence the need to worship him through the idol in the temple. The food that is eaten by everyone is actually an act of yagya where the food is offerred as an oblation onto God established as Vaishvanara / gastric fire in all. So every being is essentially a Sanatani Hindu. Denying the same does not change the reality.

• Sanskrit is that which is taught by those who know to those who don't know in such a way that they can't understand. But Basavanna taught his dharma in simple language that even lowest person can understand.
• Lately, Sanskrit is becoming very popular and it is the mother of all other languagaes. Sanatana dharma is the source of all religions. But still, Alwars, Nayanmars and many other countless saints and sadhus have explained the Vedic truths in other languages much before Basaveshwara and after him also.

• In Hindu dharma - there are 33 crore gods. There are many gurus. There is Shankara, Ramanuja, Madhva and many other gurus who oppose each other in their siddhanta. Whom should we follow? There is big confusion and everything is devised by higher caste to cheat innocent people. That is why Basavanna created this new dharma.
• Same old argument used by Abrahamic missionaries also. All the many traditions in Hindu religion are like different rivers that finally reach the one and the only Absolute Brahman. Every tradition equally valid and truth seekers have a choice to folow any path.

• Basavanna's new dharma was opposed by the castiest Sanatanis. But still he was able to continue because the then ruler Bijjala was a practitioner of Jainism where there is no God and was also established in opposition to Vedas and brahmanas.
• Newer traditions that claim to be "independent of Vedic Brahman" can come and go in time. But sanatana dharma based on the Varnashrama continues to exist for ever as it is based on God manifesting as this very universe.

• In Karnataka, there are 5 main acharyas for Veerashaivas, they are essentially Lingayats only. Followers of Basavanna cannot be Veerashaivas. They are Lingayats only.
• The words Linga and aayata are both from Sanskrit and Linga symbolises Shiva manifesting as the universe and "aayata" stands for absolute dependence on Him. So whatever may be the name the essence is Vedic Sanatana Dharma only.

• Lingayata dharma is the original dharma and is based anubhaava or experience. The Vachana sahitya or the scripture of Lingayatais the mother that shows the father of Basavanna.
• Dependence on Vedic God manifesting as the universe is very much experiential. As already explained Dharma is that which is taught by Vedas only and vachana is only a reflection of the same.

• Lingayata dharma opposes the Vedic Brahminic tradition that has cheated the society based on their blind belief on the panchanga, idol worship, abhisheka, vastu and so on,
• Brahmins and Brahman existing as the inner Self of all can never be opoosed. The validity of panchanga and astrology can never be denied by any one as we are in a connected world. Everybody is a idol worshipper as we all worship our body everyday. Recognizing and worshipping God in others and in the elements, is what is needed to conquer selfishness.

• Anybody can become a dharma guru in Lingayata. But in Veerashaiva and Sanatana Vedic Hindu tradition, people from only particular community can become a dharma guru.
• If every tom, dick and harry becomes a guru, then it gives tise to false religions. People who are knowledgeable and practice proper Achara like, Brahacharya, shoucha, Ahimsa, tapasya and so on, only can become true Gurus. 

• Basavanna's Lingayata dharma preached equality before Karl Marx and liberated lower caste dalits before Ambedkar. The vachana literature is a constitution similar to the Indian constitution.
• Equality is already there in the Veda as Vedic God is equally present in all. But Vedas also recognizes differences in Guna and Karma which is the basis for the Varna/Ashrama duties or dharma. This is missing in all other non-Vedic religions and that is the root cause for all evils in the society

The fact that Vedas identify the entire universe as the body or personality of God, automatically consumes and digests every other religion or world view and reduces them all, as a mere footnote for the eternal Hindu Sanatana Dharma. 

Vedic view recognizes differences in the world and integrates them all into one divine personality of Cosmic God, while all other religions / world views divides the world into believers and others. God in other religions is a dictator as he damns non-believers, who are his own creations, to eternal hell.

Vedic God, on the other hand is absolutely merciful as He and sustains and keeps the entire universe of living and non-living entities, within himself and provides infinite chance through multiple lives for beings to realize their potential and attain liberation.   

Namaste

Suresh

Evidence for God

In the following Video, an Islamic preacher is making a statement that – Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence for God. 

Hinduism Messed Up This Ex-Muslim's Mind | Smile 2 Jannah | Speakers Corner

He says - "there are three kinds of existences – impossible, contingent and necessary. We humans are contingent as we depend on many others. This chain of contingent existences would go in infinite regress if God is not accepted as the necessary existence. Cause and effect may also goes in infinite regress. But Contingent existence is different from that."  

The other person correctly says that this argument based on necessary existence contradicts the law of cause and effect. Both arguments based on necessary existence and cause-effect suffers from the fallacy of infinite regress. Actually, both the arguments are essentially the same, as the necessary existence is nothing but the first cause!

The Islamic scholar is only talking about different types of existences, but is unable to define what existence is. The other person is not denying his existence but is very clear that existence is undefinable. He should have said that pure existence is nothing but Brahman or Consciousness, though unknowable, always remains as the root of all existences including God as the necessary existence! 

But in spite of all the above arguments, Abrahamic religions, that posits an extra-terrestrial cause-less God, is essentially belief based as they don't have sound philosophy. The argument for God, based on necessary existence, has logical fallacy as God who is independent cannot have any dependents. That is why their God is dependent on the prophets and their book to prove his existence and has no power to independently incarnate and reveal himself to establish religion.

That is not the case with Vedic Hindu view point.

Why because, God in Hindu Vedic view is the essential spirit Self that exists in all and is verily of the nature of existence, consciousness and bliss - SatchidAnanda. Though He is immutable, He manifests as this very universe with His mysterious energy of mAya and also incarnates as needed to reveal himself and establish religion or dharma. All kinds of infinite regresses get eliminated when this Vedic God Brahman who is everywhere is realized. That is why Vedas declare, when one thing (Brahman/Self) is known, everything is known / attained. In the light of this absolute Brahman, abrahamic god is only an imaginary entity.

This supreme Absolute God, as the inner Self of all, always remains as the source/abode/destination of all existences of name/forms. Though body could be taken as the evidence for the Self/God, the Self is actually its own evidence as it can exist by itself. The entire universe is identified as the body of God and dependence of all living beings on the universe for their existence cannot be denied by any embodied being and is very much experiential. The scripture of Veda, which is essentially of the nature of sound or Shabda has its origin/abode/destination in God established as the inner Self of all and manifesting as this very universe.

God as Truth or existence is essentially unknowable. But is also knowable as the source/abode/destination of all worldly existences or name/forms.

The Vedic scripture alone is valid, eternal or Sanatana as it is rooted in the timeless, absolutely real Self or God. The contingency existences of rishis, the Vedic scripture and the way of life of dharma transmitted and practiced through the endless line of teacher-student relationship is also not denied as everything derives its existence from the God/Self/Brahman indwelling in all. All other scriptures have defects as they are human created and limited by space and time. 

Dharma is that which sustains all. Hindu God, in the form of the Universe, is thus an embodiment of dharma. Every living being, let alone humans, are absolutely dependent on this Hindu God for their existence. But still, ignorant people are postulating some imaginary god based on their blind belief, rooted in their own human created books and faulty logic.

According to Vedic Hindu View, God is the essential non-dual Self or Atman, that exists in all and remains as the source/abode/destination of all other worldly existences. Islamists copied this Hindu God of Atman and incorrectly pronounced it as Allah and ignorantly and childishly trying to prove that their God alone is true and Hindu God is false!

It is impossible to falsify the eternal Hindu God of Atman or the Self that shines in all. Hindu God as Brahman or the Self is self-evident and does not need anything else to prove his existence and the body/mind/intellect derives its existence from this self-existing and indwelling Hindu God. 

All other world views including Abrahamic views are at best, could only be a footnote and approximation to this unknowable, unthinkable, undeniable Hindu God of Atman/Brahman who is of the nature if pure Existence, Consciousness and Bliss.

Namaste

Suresh

What is Advaita

In the following video Sri Mani Dravida Shastrigal has presented a very lucid introduction to the philosophy of Advaita as propounded by Sri AcharyA Shankara.

Dr.S.Srinivasan Endowment Lecture on "Advaitam-An Introduction" by Dr. Mani Dravid Shastrigal

Here are some of the main points:

1. Advaita is primarily the non-duality of the essential Atman or the Self that is there in all.
2. Those who don’t believe in God identify the Self with the body.
3. Those who believe in God, will identify the self, body and God as different and real.
4. All VedAntins agree that God as the paramAthma, is Advaita – one without a second
5. Dvaita holds that the Brahman / Ishwara is different from the self / jiva and jagat.
6. VishishtAdvaita holds that Brahman/Ishwara is inseparably one with self / jiva and jagat.
7. There are many VishishtAdvitas – like Vishnu VishishtAdvaita, Shiva VishishtAdvaita and so on – but ultimately, they are Advaita only without denying the reality of Dvaita / jagat.
8. But Dvaita appears to be just opposed to Advaita.
9. Advaita holds that:
• The self is neither the enjoyed/bhOgyam/jada nor the enjoyer/bhoktA/jiva.
• The Brahman/ParamAthma as the unqualified witnessing Self alone exists or real.
• Everything else other than this Brahman / Self is false or does not exist.
10. Advaita alone truly gives the meaning of Veda/shruti as follows:
• Shantam Shivam Advaitam chaturtham manyante sa AtmA
•  jnyAte Dvaitam na vidyate
•  B.Gita also identifies the Self as kshetragya and all kshetra as false.
• Atman alone is real. There is no anAtma jagat at all.
11. All other non-advaitic schools are not teaching the above true meaning of Vedas / shruthi.
12. Advaita still accepts the existence of “bhAvaroopa ajnyAna” or the primordial ignorance because of which duality is experienced in transaction by even Advaita teachers. But this will disappear upon attainment of the Advaita Brahman

Here are some observations with the sole intent to reconcile all VedAntic schools:

1. Point #10 above proves that Advaitins are dvaitins when it comes to vyavahAra. Advaitic Brahman always remains as the ground of the dualistic jagat!
2. In fact, there is no clearcut line that divides Advaita, Dvaita, vishishtAdvaita. The non-dual Brahman as the inner Self of all, is the connecting link that unites all of them.
3. All Vedantins accept Ishwara as the SarvAntaryAmi paramAtma– indwelling ultimate Self.
4. If Ishwara is the Self then jagat exists as His body.
5. The difference and inseparable oneness between atman and shareera is undeniable.
6. The antaryAmi brAhmaNa of the BruhadAraNyaka Upanishad explicitly teaches every entity in jagat as Brahman’s body
7. Actually, Acharya Shankara also accepts Brahma shareera while explaining the unbroken line of guru-shishya Parampara.
8. The name dvaita is built into the name Advaita. It is hard to imagine any other name for Advaita without Dvaita.
9. The difference between mithya and satya must be accepted by all, including Advaitins.
10. The non-dual Self that is taught in the Mandukya is the SarvAtma / Self of all where all names/forms are included and transcended. It is actually the source/abode/destination of everything.
11. It is the same Self / Ishwara / Narayana who is established in all – Sarva bhutastham ekam narayanam.
12. jnyAte Dvaitam na vidyate – simply means the worldly dualities like birth/death, joy/sorrow, kama/krodha and so on, will cease to exist for a jnAni who has attained the paramAtman.
13. But still, all names/forms arise/remain/returns back to the all-pervading Self.
14. The self/existence of the jiva/jagat is not outside the Self/existence of nArAyana.
15. The self is limited by non-self. But Brahman has no limitation. This proves that Brahman is other than the self/jiva and is the self of the anAtma prakrithi also.
16. That is the reason Brahma sutra advises to do Brahma drushti in anAtma / prateeka (as opposed to atma Drishti)
17. The entire jagat exists in the self and the self in Brahman.
18. In the pot-space example, Jagat is the pot and Brahman is the space that is inside and outside the pot. Whether the pot is intact or broken, the mud will continue to exist in space.
19. The pot-mud example also proves Brahman as the Self is the material and efficient cause for the body/jagat.
20. In the rope snake example, there is difference between the seer and the rope/snake.
21. The jagat will bring sorrow when seen as an object of enjoyment. But when it is seen as Ishwara himself, it will protect and sustain the jiva.
22. Brahman exists in Advaitin, Dvaitins, VishishtAdvaitins and in all beings whatever may be their world view.
23. The Kshetra-Kshetragnya relation taught in the B.Gita also establishes the body-soul relation that obtains between Jagat and Ishwara/Brahman.
24. Though VishishtAdvaita in general supports, all kinds of theistic schools like Shiva, Devi and so on, identification or existence of all such name/form/deities culminates in Vishnu who is everywhere.
25. The vedAntic Self or Brahman, is all pervading and indwelling in all name/forms and this meaning is explicitly captured in the name nArAyaNa. There is support for this in Vedas, B.Gita and Sri Shankara bhAshya.
26. Ultimately all names point to the indwelling Self that is shining in All. But it is the sarvAtma or the Self of the universe and so there is a need to identify and accept the entire universe as the body of Ishwara.
27. Atman is the source/abode/destination of jagat. Atman is Truth and Jagat is Dharma.
28. Wherever there is Truth there is Dharma and that alone reveals Truth.

The above is true VedAnta that fosters mutual respect. People who do not SEE Brahman in others (anAtma prakruthi) cannot claim to be VedAntins.

 Namaste

Suresh

Can Sanatana Dharma be eliminated?

Can the five elements – earth, water, air, fire and space be eliminated? Sun, moon, planets and stars be eliminated? The universe be eliminated? Consciousness be eliminated? Obviously, the answer is a vehement No! Elimination of these, amounts to elimination of one's own self! In that case, then Sanatana dharma also cannot be eliminated!

What is the connection? Well, Dharma is that which sustains. All these elements and entities in nature are sustaining us, by unconditionally offering themselves to us, by engaging in their respective duties according to their nature! The dharma of fire is to heat, water to cool, Air to provide vitality, earth to support, space to accommodate and so on. We owe our existence to every entity in the universe - like the earth, sun, moon, planets, stars and also our mother, father, teacher/s, family, society and so on. When we become conscious of this truth of our absolute dependance on the universe around us, our duty towards every such entity automatically manifests as dharma. 

To engage in unconditional selfless service to the society and the universe, according the innate nature, capability and capacity of our personality comprising of our body / mind / intellect, is dharma. Brahman/Ishwara or God who pervades and indwells in nature is teaching sanAtana dharma, through every element and entity in nature. We as humans only have to be in tune with Him. If not, we will end up as selfish demons who only exploit nature for sense gratification.

As atma / self is eternal / sanAtana, dharma as a duty that obtains between atma / embodied self and the ParamAtma / Universal Self is also sanAtana. In fact, the indubitable and universal Self that abides in all, goes by the name of Dharma as it sustains the body and the universe. 

The body is made up of different parts and each part is engaging in its own dharma / duty in total harmony and unison with other parts so that the overall body can function normally, serving the indwelling self.

Likewise, the entire society / universe is the body of God / ParamAtma / universal Self and every embodied being is supposed to engage in their respective work / duty according to their nature / guna / varna, in total harmony and unison with all other beings, as a service to the universal Self / ParamAtma / God.     

In short, any selfless action performed with unconditional love, according to one’s guna / varna, as a service to God manifesting as the universe, for unconditionally sustaining us, is Dharma. Anything opposed to the above is adharma, which is like a disease that needs to be controlled / eliminated! That which is good for the universe, is good for the individual embodied being and not vice versa!

To give more than what we take from the world is Godly / dharma. Taking everything from the world without giving anything is demonic / adharma. According to Bhagavata purAnam, the cow/bull represents dharma. It has four legs - tapas (sense control), shoucham (external and internal purity), daya (compassion for all living / non-living entities) and satyam (truthfulness). It is so obvious that these are universal values that no sane human can deny.

It is interesting to note that in the overall scheme of the universal dharma even adharma has its own place! It is not totally eliminated! Why? because adharma actually glorifies Dharma! While Dharma aims to serve God, manifesting as the universe, adharma is solely based on the body / ego, looking upon the universe as an object of sense enjoyment. Nevertheless, God, manifesting as this very universe is sustaining the bodies of adhArmic people also. The fight between dharma / suras and adharma / auras is always going to be there in the world but ultimately, Dharma alone wins, as it is in tune with God manifesting as the universe and unconditionally aims for the good and sustenance of all through perfect alignment of thoughts, words and deeds. 

Is Sanatana dharma same as varNAshrama dharma? 

SanAtana dharma is of two fold - Pravrutti (external) and Nivrutti (internal). VarNAshrama dharma comes under pravrutti as it pertains to the vocation one adopts to serve the universe.  It is only a division in labor or karma according to the nature of the body, mind and intellect which belongs to the material world. Though pravrutti dharma differs based on the varna (based on the nature of the body) and ashrama (phases in life), they all end up as service to God who is the Soul of the universe and the benefit reaped is also the same for all. When proper rains and harvest happen due to performance of dharma, the entire society reaps the benefit. When all the organs in the body are discharging their specific duties, the overall health and happiness is reaped by the Soul. Varna which is based on the body helps to sustain diversity which is very much essential for the functioning of the society and the universe. But the indwelling spirit self or jiva is beyond any varna or gender. It is rooted in Brahman or God who is the source of all existence, consciousness and bliss.

The Nivrutti aspect is to realize and experience Brahman or God who is within one's own self, through tapasya or withdrawal of the senses and mind and this is common for everybody. All sAdhus, sanyasis, saints, devotees, jnyAnIs and so on are also beyond any Varna as they predominantly practice Nivrutti dharma and therefore considered as manifestations of God only!   

Namaste

Suresh